UNM FOOTBALL
UNM making 'adjustments' to spring game festivities
It'll be Team Cherry versus Team Silver in New Mexico's spring game
It looks like Saturday will be a true spring game after all.
New Mexico will roll with a more traditional intrasquad scrimmage for its spring game Saturday, splitting the roster into two separate teams for a standard four-quarter game.
Head coach Jason Eck said Team Cherry (first-team offense and defensive reserves) and Team Silver (first-team defense and offensive reserves) will square off for four 12-minute quarters. Fourteen players 鈥 running back Scottre Humphrey among them 鈥 will play a half for both teams.
Last spring, UNM incorporated an offense-versus-defense format with a modified scoring system. Eck said earlier this week he was 鈥渙ptimistic鈥 the Lobos would hold an intrasquad scrimmage with minimal modifications Saturday.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not pure ones versus twos because I wanted to have some subs and stuff,鈥 he added Friday. 鈥淲e鈥檙e gonna play a game, we鈥檒l have a coin toss 鈥 (For) special teams, we鈥檙e just gonna have the specialists come out and do that on air.鈥
While UNM is healthy enough to hold a full spring game, a few notable players will be held out despite practicing this spring: Quarterback Jack Layne and linebacker Jaxton Eck will not participate in the full-contact spring game after receiving offseason surgeries.
On the house?
Could free beer be distributed at UNM鈥檚 spring game?
All signs point to that being a real possibility 鈥 albeit after some changes.
Friday, UNM posted a since-deleted video on its football program鈥檚 X account featuring head coach Jason Eck and a Bud Light truck. Standing in front of the beer truck, the Lobos鈥 second-year coach promised something 鈥渧ery special鈥 for fans after the game at Louie Lane, UNM鈥檚 tailgate zone set up outside the stadium鈥檚 north end.
鈥淯sually Louie Lane in the fall is (for the) pregame,鈥 Eck said. 鈥淲e moved it to the postgame, because I wanted to come, I wanted to bring the team after the game. See us there for autographs, and coach Eck鈥檚 got it worked out 鈥 the first (UNM censored what Eck said in the video) is on me.鈥
Earlier this week, Eck said UNM would have free beer available at the spring game.
鈥淚t鈥檒l be a fun day, they鈥檙e gonna have a lot of events,鈥 Eck said in a scrum with reporters Monday. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e gonna have free beer at this thing. So that鈥檚 a pretty good deal, free beer at the spring game.鈥
But in order to remain compliant with its liquor license and the state鈥檚 Liquor Control Act, UNM is changing its plans.
New Mexico Regulation and Licensing spokesperson Andrea Brown said UNM has a 鈥済overnmental license鈥 that 鈥渞equires all sales, service, and consumption to take place on the licensed premises.鈥
The licensed premises include University Stadium, but not Louie Lane.
鈥淎s far as licensees giving free drinks, they may do so pursuant to (New Mexico Administrative Code) 15.10.51.11 (D)(6), which states, 鈥榥othing contained in this regulation shall prohibit a licensee from utilizing a 鈥渇ree drink coupon鈥 which is limited to one drink per day per patron or giving a patron a free drink as a gesture of good will or friendship,鈥欌 she added in an email to the Journal. 鈥淔ree drinks as a gesture of good will or friendship may not be advertised and may not be given at any established interval or based on the purchases by the customer.鈥
UNM deputy athletic director and chief revenue officer Jalen Dominguez said the athletics department has been working with NMRLD to ensure all activities are compliant.
鈥淲e have made a few adjustments and look forward to having a safe, fun, engaging experience and the opportunity to show gratitude to those fans in attendance,鈥 he said in a statement to the Journal.
Before the spring game, UNM is holding an equipment surplus sale from 9 a.m. to noon in its indoor practice facility.
Following the game, fans can visit Louie Lane 鈥 UNM鈥檚 fan zone north of the football stadium 鈥 from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. for games, food trucks and autograph opportunities in a fan fiesta partnership with New Mexico 近距离内射合集.
Sean Reider covers college football and other sports for the Journal. You can reach him at sreider@abqjournal.com or via X at .